Pubdate: Sat, 08 Nov 2014
Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014, The Belleville Intelligencer
Contact: http://www.intelligencer.ca/letters
Website: http://www.intelligencer.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332
Page: A2

KAMERMANS INCOMPETENT, COLLEGE RULES

Finds doctor didn't maintain professional standard

A North Hastings doctor remains banned from practising in hospital
emergency rooms after the College of Physicians and Surgeons of
Ontario ruled he is incompetent and failed to maintain his
profession's standard of practice.

Friday's decision against Dr. Rob Joseph Kamermans, 68, of Coe Hill
followed a disciplinary hearing held last June in Toronto. The
restriction on his practice was imposed Feb. 25.

Kamermans denied the allegations, which stemmed from the documentation
and clinical care of several patients. The college did not reveal
where the incidents occurred and imposed a publication ban on any
information that could identify the patients.

Kamermans entered medical school at age 38, graduating in 1992. He
worked in emergency rooms in New Mexico and several Ontario hospitals,
mostly in northern Ontario. He testified 80 per cent of his time has
been spent in emergency rooms and the remainder in family medicine,
the college reported in its decision.

The four members of the college's disciplinary panel wrote in their
decision that another doctor assessed 22 of Kamermans' patient charges
and found deficiencies in six of them.

Kamermans "failed to maintain the standard of practice of the
profession and demonstrated incompetence in his clinical care in all
six patients," the panel wrote. However, its members noted, one
allegation of failing to meet standards was never proven during the
hearing.

"The committee was struck with the number of patient encounters, which
represented common ER presentations, where there were problems," the
group wrote.

"In some cases, the outcomes could have been dire.

"Dr. Kamermans was cavalier at times and lacked conscientiousness and
thoughtfulness when he was investigating and treating the patient."

The decision added Kamermans' care of eight patients "displayed a lack
of judgement of such a nature and to an extent that demonstrates that
he is unfit to continue to practise or that his practice should be
restricted.

"The committee finds, therefore, that Dr. Kamermans is
incompetent."

A penalty hearing is to follow but no date has been
set.

Kamermans and his wife, Mary, 66, are to face a trial on criminal
charges of marijuana trafficking, fraud and money laundering in
connection with his issuing of medical marijuana prescriptions.

Their former Toronto lawyer, Davin Charney, said Thursday the couple
feels "persecuted" for helping "thousands of people."

Dr. Kamermans also faces a separate college hearing related to his
medical marijuana practice.
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MAP posted-by: Matt